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Nats’ Going With Flu-Stricken Zimmermann For Home Opener

of the Washington Nationals against the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park on September 20, 2013 in Washington, DC.Jordan Zimmermann (credit: Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

UPDATED: April 4, 2014 12:10 p.m.

NEW YORK (CBSDC/AP) — Scratched from Washington’s series finale in New York because of flu-like symptoms, Jordan Zimmermann will start the Nationals’ home opener against Atlanta.

Nationals manager Matt Williams announced the final decision Friday morning.

“We’ll get a report on him and certainly monitor him tonight and tomorrow and see where he’s at,” Williams said after Thursday’s 8-2 win over the Mets, which completed a three-game sweep to start the season. “We don’t want to send him out there with him being really sick, so we’ll see how that goes in the morning.”

Washington’s second option Friday would have been a series of relievers. David Hale is set to start for the Braves.

Replaced by Tanner Roark against the Mets, Zimmermann was given fluids and sent back to Washington ahead of the team. Williams said Zimmermann, who went 19-9 with a 3.25 ERA last year, was feeling fine Wednesday but took ill after the game.

“He’s running a fever. He was up all night throwing up,” Williams said. “Evidently he’s feeling pretty under the weather.”

NOTES: RHP Doug Fister, sidelined by a strained muscle on the right side of his upper back, played catch. He can be activated April 7. “He’s progressing,” Williams said.

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